Tray



May 14, 1935. w. R. STUCK AY Filed Nov. 50,1932" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W.R. STUCK May 14, 1935.

TRAY

-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1932 2 Sheets Patented May 14, 1935 TRAY -William R. Stuck, Los Angel es, -Califi Application November soaioezwsr a n 644,991 a "12* Claims.

:at right angles to, the tray, and-this; requires considerable packing space if the trays-areshipped: t would, of course,Joe-possible toishipsuch trays Mithgth bails or legsseparataso that they could be attached to the'body :of the. tray at the, re-

ceiving point, but this :would entail; some labor-in assembling the trays.

v'Ihegeneral object of this invention is; to pro- :duce a trayofz-this ;type;having .a.- simple construction enabling v astiail or gsupportingglegs, to be normally held rigid 1on1 the bod .of ,=the tray, "but connected to the tray: body in, suc h-.a =wa=y that these parts can readily be disengaged-sufficiently to enable them tobeswung into substantially-the same plane as the'bodyof the tray.

In handling a traythat is carried; Qnaj bail, if articles such as glasses are removed .at one1side of the bail when servingfrom the t ra.y, ;the load remaining on the tray will be :eccentric: on the tray and would tend to swing the tray ;to one side so that the body of the tray would assume an :inclinedposition. Oneof the. objects of the invention-is to construct the .bail -of, such a tray :sQ-as to -prevent this; ,in otherawords, to construct I the -bail so 2 that, itcanreadily ,be' maintained ,in v a vertical plane ;by-the hand holding the a bail, thereby ,maintaining1the body of the tray in, a substantially horizontal position.

-A-further object of: the inventionisto produce rantarticle which can be employed-aaa tray,,and having-a bail, which, if desired,.can be held. with the bailinthe same plane as-the bodyofthe tray, to enable: the-article to :be. ,hunglipon. a wall for ornamental purposes, orlso that.the body,of

the traycanoperate asa frame-orsupport. for

.a picture.

As applied: to, a househo1d .;tray,, the invention, in .its preferred embodiment. involves theiuse, of oppositely disposed-,pivot pins on .thesidesof the tray, to.whichthe ends. of the bail are .,attached. When .using the tray, .the ends of (the arms are interlocked .with sockets .011 .the sides of the .tray thatholdthe bail rigidlyat right. an-

glesto the plane ofthetray. body. By. moving the arms outwardly. onlthepins, .the interlocking -connection,. between the arms..,and the tray ,may

bedisengagedto permit the'bailtobe swung down. into, the same plane as the tray. ,One of appended claims. V I I-n the drawings, Figure 1 ,is can endelevation .of ;a .tray embodying irny invention and showing .thebail; its norinal interlocked upright posilfimbqqlying. my invention.

the objects of thisinvention is to provide means for guarding --the -pivot pins to prevent 'ones ,fin elsimm being accidentally pinched between the: ends of the armsgandzthe headsof thepins v when the bail isbeing manipulated to break. the

interlockingconnection with theloody of the tray. --Further .olsu'ects of: the invention will appear hereinafter. -T-he inventionconsists; of novelparts and cominationsoflparts tobe describedhereinafter. all

of whichpontriloute to produce anefiicienttray.

; A preferred.embodirnentof the invention is. de-

,cribed in the following specification, while the .foroadscope of the.

invention-is pointed out in the tion on the body-ofthetray. This view par- ;tia1ly;in;section-tO,,illustrate details of the connection-between thabailand the tray. In this 7 .view the; normal-position of the tray is indicated in dottedlinesp Figure ,2 ,is a- ,plan or" the tray .with thebbail latched orlo c ked to the tray inits swungdown...

-po sition,;.so'that it i s in the same plane as the .Joedymf the; tray.

Figure 3 is a view similarlto Figure 2,Ibut

.I-ShQWing a construction of the trayin .which the ,traybodyis of jelongatediorm instead of circular formpasshownin Figurez. v

,FigureA israiview. similar to Figure 2', but illustrating a trayof elliptical .form. li'igure, 5 is.-a horizontal section taken on the line; 5.-I-,5 of Figure. l upon an enlarged scale, and 1ook.in .11pward1y.

Figure 6, is.a;perspective view of .a hospitaltray Figure 7 is a vertical section .takenabout'on line 1-,! ofFigure 6, upon an enlarged scale,.and .further illustrating details of the connection betweenthe legs and the tray body.

. 7 Eigurefidsa perspective. view showing a short portion of the edge of a round tray, and particularly illustrating the socket plate 7 shown in Figure 1,. andwhich I prefer to employ for securing a ball or .leg .movably to the, traybody inaccord- .ance with this invention.

Referring particularly; to the parts, and espefcially toFigure's land 2, i indicates the body of the tray which may be ofjcircular form as indicated. At twoopposite'points, the sides of this tray are provided with shoulders capable of engaging the s ides ofthe bail 2. While one shoulder .a .e chtid th .trav e b s d..- I p e e will be evident that by pulling both extensions 4 A outwardly simultaneously, they can be readily to provide oppositely disposed substantially vertical shoulders 3 on each side, which shoulders cooperate to form a rudimentary socket 3 for receiving the adjacent end of the bail. The bail end may be in the form of an extension or ear 4 to lie against the side wall 5 of the tray when the bail is in its upright position indicated in Figure 1. When in this position, the sides or side edges 6 of the bail engage the shoulders 3land lock the body against rotation on-the bail. Any suitable pivotal connection may be provided for connecting the bail to the body 5. For this purpose I prefer to employ a pivot in the form of The bail 2 is constructed in such a way that the endsof the arms 2 and 2 of the bail; press the extensions or ears lyieldingly into the socket between the posts B In order to accomplish this, I prefer to construct the hail. of resilient material and shaped so that before the bail is applied to the tray its natural resiliency would-hold the extensions A closer togetherithan would be permitted by the presence of ;the tray body between the ears l. In the'present' instance, the bail 2 may be constructed of two bars of strap iron shaped substantially as shown and'connected together at their upper ends by a weld l2 so that the arms 2 and 2 form an angle l3; There are four of the posts 8 thereby forming a rudimentary socket on a horizontal axis between the horizontal faces 9 of the posts.

If a tray is constructed as described above, it

disengaged from the vertical sockets 3 and after beingdisen'gaged, the bail can readily be swung on the pintles I as an axis into the plane of the body of the tray as indicated in Figure 2, with tween the faces 9 of the posts 8 In order to prevent any possibility of ones fingers being pinched under the heads Ill of the pintles I, I prefer to cover each pintle with a suitable guard 14. This guard is preferably formed of a substantially tubular sleeve having a circular head l5 at one end secured to the outer side of the corresponding extension 4. Aplurality of longitudinalsllts 14 dividethe sleeve into a pluralit y of leaves M the ends of which may be bent toward each other so as to cover the outer end of the pintle.

In serving from a tray of this type, it will be evident that if a number of articles are taken off; at oneside ofthe bail, the tray will become unbalanced by an eccentric load. In that case, the tray would tend to swing laterally and assume a position in which the body of the tray is inclined.

to a horizontal plane. In order to overcome this,

I prefer to form the upper end of the bail with a handle or knob which can be grasped by the' person, carrying the trayn In. the embodiment of the invention shown inFigures 1 and 2, this can be accomplishedby forming' a handle rigid with the bail,'preferably in: the form of two rolls [5 on the ends of the arms 2 and 2 These rolls cooperate to forma handle that can be grasped in the hand that is supporting the tray, and will enable force to be applied at this point to maintain the tray body in horizontal position. In grasping the handle the angle 5 cooperates by forming a socket for fingers of the hand holding the handle.

It is advantageous to have the arms of the bail on the outer side of the rim of the tray, as compared with a construction in which the arms are on the inside, for the reason that when the arms are on the outside, the action of the weight on the tray is to drawthe arms inwardly at their lower end. In other words, the action of gravity tends to tighten the connection between the arms and the tray bottom. If the arms are on the inside of the rim, the weight on the tray develops a condition in which the lower ends of the arms tend to move inwardly and away from the side of the tray to which they are attached.

If desired, the tray body may be made of other forms than that illustrated in Figure 2. For example; the tray may have forms indicated in Figures 3 and 4. -As illustrated in Figure 3, the tray body Hmay be of elongated, octagonal form with the ends of the bail attached on the ends of the tray. -*In this, case, the arms I8 of the bail are preferably substantially parallel with the inclined edge ll of'the tray body when the bail is folded down "into the planeof the tray body. As illustrated'in Figures 3 and 4, the bails l8 and I9 are each formed of a single piece of strap metal. In this case, in-order to form a handle to accomplish-the purposeof the rolls I6, I form a knob such as the knobs 2G and 2-! at the upper end of 'the bail. This knob is, of course, rigidly attached, and operates as a handle for maintaining the tray body in a horizontal position. If desired,

these knobs 20 and 2| 'can be constructed of a split sleeve having the general formof the sleeve [4. This'gives uniformity in the general design of the 'trayz.

When the bail is in the plane of the tray body, it will be evident that the'tray can very readily be packed in a small space. I d

If desiredfthe tray can be hung on the wall while the bail is in the plane of the body of the itray, to enable the tray body to be used as apicthe ears 4 received in the horizontal socket bebutwhich wouldbe particularly useful in hospit- .als' as a tray to be set up on a bed to enable a patient to'e'at with" ease. InFigure 6 I illustrate such; an embodiment of the" invention. In this view, 22 indicates thebody of the tray. At its four corners itis provided with means for pivotally supporting four legs 23, which operates as supportsfor the tray to support the same in a ,1 set up position. These legs preferably have roundedlower ends 24 to avoid forming sharp corners which might injure the bedspread. Each leg is pivotallyattached to a corner of 'the tray body on a pivotal axis. In the present instance, I prefer to form the tray body with a cast rim 25 having an integral outwardly projecting pin or pintle 26 near each corner, and on this pin the upperend of a corresponding leg is pivotally mounted. The pin' 26 is of suflicient length to project a considerable distance beyond the outer face off the leg 23, and a coil spring 21 on the pin presses the leg 23, yieldingly against the side of "therim, thereby holding it between the inner vertical facesof posts 28 which project outwardly from the side of the rim. These posts, like the pin 26, may be cast integral with therim. The

mourners .ospringrflz isheldiimplacerlgyeazcapzomheadflmse- :cnredrtoztheaendzofi thespirizrbyzmaehinewscrewilifl. zit :willsbe: evident :fli at-ieaehi legzZii-zoamreadily :be :disengagect fromsthewverticalffacesiofathezpost .5 28 by pulling the same outwardly on the piniZB; .:;the 1 leg. .zoanx-then'rbe :rotatedz to sac-substantially horizontal f position, oasliindicated a-.by.-ithe dotted Hines. 23 vanduseti@bankaagainstethetrim:between :thevupper paircofoposts 28gandtithelowerzzpairvof posts; fthereby." interlockingetheslegimth'rthe rim final-horizontal position andizinzitheoplanezofiithe bodymfltheztray. 1 I

The tray may have afib'ottomfl loflany suitable :rmateriaLisSuch asifiber, oraothenmaterial which .15 wan-Joe heldsin plaee abovethei flangelbyesuitable screwspsuch :asithescrew 32. TT-hese SOI-BWSifiil'G :1 coun-tersimk and only passmartiallysthmugh ithe -':-tray bottom: so ithat atheyidomot manthe appear- :ancebf theatray. j i120 It zismnderstood thatithe embodiment off-the invention descri-bed :herein is :only :one-sof ithe m-any: embo'dlmentsjfthis invention mayitakes and I do not wish to be limited inithe:practicevnfi the invention: nor in the-claims to the-particular 3.25 i: embodiment :set forth.

If desired, Tthe trayihavingifolding; legs, such -asillustrated in Flgure 6 mayalso be provided -with -a bail having: the -;oharao-teristics: ofconstruction 'illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

:430 zwhat I- claim is:

i 1. A service tray having.=-a -body swith ==a "flat =bottom for supporting articlesserved-on the tray,

said body' 'having a=side wall withwppositely dis- -:-posedsockets for-med'ithereon, and -abaihhaving -a3aair otarmswith the ends ofathe arms pivotally:attachedto thdhody-of the tray atsaidsockets, saidsocketahaving sidewallsengaging 'opposite sides= of the bail,- saidbailbeing: of resilientmamerial so as to *press -the-ends of thearmsyield- .140 .-..ably'-toward"thesookets a-nd 'operating in an -up- --=right *posi tion of 1 the -bail to maintain -the ends :of the arms inithe socketsto support the 'tray in a strbstantially-horizontal position, the-upper end of the bail having means rigid withthehbail and fenninga -handle to -be grasped to enable the tray to be maintained in afsubstantially horizontal position with an eccentrically disposed load on the tray.

2. A tray having a body with a pin projecting outwardly from the side thereof, a supporting member pivotally mounted on the pin, yieldingly pressing itself against the tray body, and shoulders projecting from side portions of said tray cooperating with the opposite side edges of the (I supporting member to hold the same against rotation and enabling the supporting member to be disengaged from the shoulders by an outward movement while maintained on the pin and enabling the supporting member to be moved into a folded position on the outside of the tray.

3. A tray having a plate on each side thereof, each plate having a pair of separated posts disposed respectively on opposite sides of the middle 7 vertical axis through the plate, a supporting member including arms located at opposite 'points on the outer sides of the tray, with means for pivotally securing the same to the plate on a vertical line between the posts, said arms having weeengagelithemosts:in'ra;substantially-horizonretakpositiontonzthe :lside ofztthe. tray.

trayzhavingizaicrimnof. castimetaltwithz-an iioutwandlyzqaroieoting: integralmpin fiormed'ithereeon said:rinnhavingtan;inwardlymrojectingsflange ddfitiitSUIGWBIiK-kdQ'fi; obottom forusaijdiztraysecured non ssaiidiiifilange, ea supporting-i member mounted safer:rotatiorronfithe:pimwithrmeanstfor.:yieldingly :rpressing: theusa-mei-againstizthe s5si'de.. ;o'f J the rim, means on the outer end of the pin for:r.etaining -i=the isupportingimember on" the. pin; and: means 'iineludmgnabrupt shouldersr-carriedmby ithe rim cran'dithe supporting member cooperating to -hold ii-the ssupporting-hmember -positively in an upright -.1position. h

5. A tray' having a rimwf cast: metal with: an outwardly -projecting integral i pin formed theremonssa-id rim -havingan inwafdly projecting flange at its lower=edge,: a bottom for said tray 'secured on said fiange, a -supportingmember L mounted for :rotation: on the pin witlr means for y-ieldingly pressing 'the same -against -the side of If the rim,

means on-the outerend ot the pin for-retaining the supportingmember on" the the pin; and means "ineluding '-abrupt shoulders -carr-ied'-by the rim and the supporting member cooperating to 11 hold the supportingmember pesitively in an -"upright 'position -and-cooperating to 'holdthe same positively in a folded position against-the *side"- of the ---r1m. r

tray for supporting articles-to -be' served, having abody-with afiat'bo'ttorm and-a side-wall, -said-side walls having-oppositely disposed sockets "formed thereonon their outensides and abail having-apair-of-a-rms;- means for maintaining a pivotal-connection-inallpositions of "the bail between theends of'the arms and' the "wall of the tray-at said" sockets said baihbeing of resilient materiakso' astopre'sstheerids of the arms yieldsingly at -all"times i-rrwardly towards the sockets,

":saidfbair-capable offoldingfdown' over' and past *theend-of thetrayrsaid-bail and said-sockets havi "i-ng abrupt-shouldersforeng-a-gingeach other and;

cooperating-inthe-mprightposition'=: of the bail to form a-positive loek -to 'support the tray in a substantially horizontal position.

7. A tray for supporting articles to be served, I

having a body with a flat bottom and a side wall, said side wall having oppositely disposed sockets formed thereon, a bail having a pair of arms, a pintle on the side of the tray adjacent each socket for pivotally attaching each arm in its corresponding socket, said bail being of resilient yieldingly towards the sockets, said bail and material so as to press the ends of the 'armssaid sockets having abrupt shoulders for engaging each other, said parts cooperating to support the tray in a substantially horizontal position, and enabling the bail to be pulled outwardly by hand and disengaged from the sock ets by a lateral movement forcing thefextreme ends of the arms along the axes of the'pintles and out of engagement with the shoulders of the sockets, each pintle having sufiicient length to maintain the pivotal engagement of its corresponding arm with the side wall when the arm is disengaged from the socket; and means on the .pintles for limiting the outward movement of the arms.

8. A tray havinga plate on the outer side thereof, said plate having a socket with abrupt shoulders formed thereon on a vertical axis and a socket formed'thereon on a substantially horizontal axis, a supporting member with abrupt shoulders for engaging the first named shoulstantially, horizontal position, the upper end ders and having means for pivotally attaching the same on the plate, said supporting member normally holding itself pressed against the side of the plate to'hold the same in eitherof said sockets, thereby securing the supporting member against pivotal rotation on the'pivotal axis,- said pivotal attaching means including a pin.

maintaining the pivotal connection when the supporting member is disengaged from said shoulders. i i

9. A service, tray having a body with a flatjbottom for supporting articles served on the tray, said body having a side Wall with oppositely disposed sockets formed thereon, and a bail having a pair of arms with the ends of the arms pivotally attached to the body of the tray at said sockets, said bail being of resilient material so as to press the ends of ,the arms'yieldably toward the sockets and operating inan upright position of the bail to maintain the ends of the arms in the sockets to support the tray. in a subof the bail having a handle rigid with the arms of the bail and having an angular socket on the under side ,of the handle adapted to receive fingers of ones handuwhen grasping the handle to enable the tray to be maintained'in a substantially horizontal position with an eccentrically disposed load on the tray. 7

10. A tray having a body with a pin projecting outwardly on one side of the same andhaving another pin projecting outwardly on the opposite side of, the body and in axialalignment with the first-named pin, a supporting memto the traylbody, other fixed shouldersca-pable, of cooperating with the supporting member to hold the same in a folded'position, said pins having a length suificient to enable the supporting inember to be disengaged from the shoulders without being disengaged fromthe'pins, all of the above mentioned parts cooperating to enable the supporting member to'be' disengagednfrom the shoulders by an outward movement on the pins. F1 11. A tray'having aiplate'on each side thereof, each plate having a pair of separatedvposts disposed respectively on opposite sides of the middle vertical axis through the plate, a supporting member including arms located at opposite points on the outer sides of the tray, with means for pivotally securing the same to the, plate on a vertical ,line between the posts,- said arms having means for yieldingly pressing the same against the side of the plateand into engagement with the posts to hold the supporting member against rotation,- and cooperating'to enable the arms tobe moved outwardly to disengage-the same from the posts and rotated into a folded position tome-engage theposts in a substantiallyhorizontal position on the side of the tray, and

, means for limiting the outward movement of the arms with respect to the tray.

12. Atrayhaving a body Withfjfi; pin projecting outwardly on one side of the. sameand havinganother pin projecting outwardly on the oppo- ,site sideofqthe body and in axial-alignment with the first-named pin, supporting. meanscomprising arms pivotally mounted on the pins, a

head placed on the outer end of each pin, said of the traybody, fixed shoulders; on the, tray for normally holding the supporting means againstrotation from a position at right angles ,to'the tray body, other fixed shoulders capable of cooperating with the supporting member to '30 arms beingyieldingly pressed againstthesides hold the same in'a folded position; said pins having a length sufiicientto enable the supporting member to be disengaged-from the "shoulders' without being disengaged from the pins,

all of the above mentioned parts cooperating to enable the arms to be disengaged from the shoulders by an outward'movement on the axis of; the pins; 1 WILLIAM R. STUCK; 

